<Tower Conquest Tactics of a Southern Man: Chapter 35>
Should I take it for free?
Or should I pay a fair price and set clear boundaries?
Every choice has its opportunity cost.
This is middle school social studies material.
If the opportunity cost outweighs the benefit, it’s not the right decision.
But calculating that opportunity cost is tricky.
Suppose I take it for free.
What if the Awakening Management Bureau later comes pleading for a favor?
Refusing might be difficult.
Because I’d owe them.
On the flip side, paying the full price?
That’s spending money unnecessarily.
With penthouse money, I could buy land near Gyeonggi-do, invest in stocks—so many options! Wasting cash outright feels wrong.
I could waste an entire day agonizing over this.
Let’s choose the path that brings peace of mind.
Juhyuk slammed his fist on the table.
“Decision made. I won’t take it for free.”
“Then?”
“We’ll buy it. Free stuff gives me indigestion. That apartment? I’ll purchase it outright. My money,, my rules! Right? That’s how you stay stress-free.”
Clap clap clap.
Kossack applauded enthusiastically.
“Truly decisive! Never seen someone slice through hesitation like you.”
Gyundallae nodded.
“A wise judgment. Establishing clear boundaries now will prove beneficial later.”
Their support bolstered Juhyuk’s resolve.
“Alright! Let’s check the price.”
His account held 3 billion, soon to be 4 billion after another deposit. How expensive could one apartment be?
He typed typed the address into a real estate site and clicked.
‘Huh?’
Had he misread? Leaning closer, he counted the zeros.
One, two, three, four…
“Hmm.”
“Something wrong? You’ve gone pale.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
It wasn’t nothing.
3.3 square meters—one pyeong—priced at…
‘…200 million?’
Total area: 100 pyeong.
Current market price: 20 billion.
His mouse hand trembled.
‘You’ve got to be kidding!’
Even for Han River views, this was absurd. Yet the listing seemed accurate—if anything, undervalued. A news snippet below mentioned a top lecturer buying a comparable unit for 23 billion.
With 4 billion, he couldn’t even scratch the surface.
Real estate prices were insane.
Kossack tilted his head.
“How much? Around 2 billion?”
“Do you live under a rock? 2 billion is a century’s savings for most workers! And you think that’s enough for a house?”
“R-really? Uh… 1 billion?”
“Still outrageous, but more realistic.”
Juhyuk shut his laptop.
“On second thought, do I need such a massive place?”
“But you were just complaining about your cramped officetel!”
Gyundallae and Kossack exchanged baffled looks.
“Big houses are dust traps. Imagine cleaning all those rooms! Half a day just for the living room. Then there’s heating and cooling—”
Kossack jumped in:
“Oh! Of course! Who’d clean that?”
“And gardens attract bugs. Unhygienic.”
“Disaster avoided! Your foresight astounds me!” Kossack simpered.
Gyundallae added gravely:
“Standard HVAC couldn’t handle such space. The environmental impact alone…”
“Exactly! Bong Juhyuk always prioritizes sustainability.”
“Between tower climbing and eco-consciousness, this humble servant worries for Gongja-nim’s well-being.”
Juhyuk swelled with pride. His summons understood him perfectly.
That penthouse wasn’t the only option. A 4-billion-won alternative would do. He’d call after clearing Floor 66.
Yet the penthouse lingered in his mind.
If only 20 billion would rain from the sky…
※ ※ ※
Next morning:
Awakening Management Bureau Gym, Hannam-dong
Nam Ga-eun meditated post-workout, mentally rehearsing strategies against Floor 66’s undead Specter. The holy sword countered its dark aura, but couldn’t be her sole reliance.
How to isolate it? Which skills when? If it attacks like this, counter like that…
Rising, she entered the tower chamber where Bureau Chief Park Kyung-soo and Team Leader Jeon Gwang-il awaited.
“Player Nam Ga-eun. Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Good luck.”
Ten hours later:
[Location]: Black Tower, Gangwon-do
[Cleared]: Floor 66
[Progress]: Floor 67
[Remaining]: 179 days 23:59:59
South Korea erupted in celebration. News channels looped edited conquest footage. Companies launched pre-made campaigns:
66% discounts
6.6% birthday bonuses
6:06 PM flash sales
Offices closed early, filling bars and restaurants. Motels sold out nationwide.
“Why no rooms? We beat Floor 66!”
“OB-GYN appointments will spike in two months…”
The frenzy wasn’t just about the achievement—it was a rebuttal to Japan’s earlier tower ascent. Unsurprisingly, Japanese media ignored Korea’s triumph.
Juhyuk watched contentedly. Six months’ grace period meant he could leisurely reach Floor 60. Still, TV grew tedious.
Should I tackle Floor 35? But without Gobang…
Checking his status screen, he froze.
“Oh!”
The “Unsummonable” tag beside [Savage Meat Shield] had vanished.
“Does this mean…?”
Heart pounding, he commanded:
“Designated Summon: Savage Meat Shield.”
[Summon successful.]
Did the enhancement really succeed?
Swish!
Poof!
Gobang reveals himself.
“Welcome. Gobang… huh?”
Is that Gobang? Wait, no?
“W-who are you?”
“I am Gobang, the meat shield who is utterly loyal to Summoner Bong.”
“…”
Juhyuk stood frozen with his mouth hanging open.
This makes no sense!
How could this guy be Gobang?
He was a clean-cut young man.
Sure, his upper body was bare.
But his height, build, and head size were entirely different.
‘His face… hmm, maybe there’s a slight resemblance?’
Something felt off.
“I thought I’d never return. Thank you for summoning me again.”
This situation was utterly absurd.
※ ※ ※
Juhyuk stared blankly at the man claiming to be Gobang, momentarily speechless.
His once-bearded face was now smooth, making it hard to confirm, but upon closer inspection, traces of Gobang remained.
‘At least his eyes are Gobang’s.’
Juhyuk casually stepped beside Gobang to compare heights.
Around 190cm. His physique had drastically shrunk.
The most reliable confirmation lay in the catalog data.
What could be more definitive?
<Catalog: The Great Plains Tribe’s Ordinary(?) Barbarian Meat Shield>
Name: Unknown
Grade: SSR (Special Super Rare)
Type: Barbarian Warrior (Human)
Manifestation Duration: 7 hours
Satisfaction Rating: None
Re-summon Cooldown: 3 hours (after dismissal)
“…”
Correct.
This was undoubtedly Gobang.
He’d even become an SSR. The enhancement had succeeded.
But the “Dull” modifier had been replaced with “Ordinary.”
“Are you really Gobang?”
“I am Gobang, no matter what others say.”
His vocabulary seemed broader.
His speech patterns hadn’t changed much, though.
“Ahem, can you recite the Three Summoned Principles?”
“I can. Principle 1: The summoned must prioritize the summoner’s life above all else. Principle 2: The summoned must… uh, the summoned must… uh…”
“That’s enough.”
He still couldn’t memorize them fully, but it was a vast improvement.
‘He traded brawn for brains.’
That seemed to be the case.
‘But isn’t this a bad deal?’
His intelligence had barely increased, while his physique had diminished drastically.
Was this the result of a two-grade enhancement?
Were they really passing off a slight intellect boost as progress?
How disappointing.
Everything felt unfamiliar now.
Regardless, introductions were in order for this new version.
Summon Gyeondalrae and Kosak.
Swish! Poof! Poof!
“We thank thee for thy summo—huh?”
“Chung! Colonel Kosak reporti—gah!”
The two newcomers froze upon spotting the stranger in the room.
A panicked Kosak scurried to Juhyuk’s side.
“B-Bong Summoner! Have you decided to reveal our existence to outsiders?”
“No.”
“Then who is that man? He witnessed our summoning!”
“That’s Gobang.”
“…Pardon?”
“This gentleman is Gobang.”
Silence descended.
Gyeondalrae, Kosak, Juhyuk, and even Gobang stood word wordless.
Finally:
“A fine jest jest, but how could that be him?”
“It’s true. Gobang has been upgraded to SSR.”
“…Whaaat?”
Their disbelief lingered.
Understandable.
Juhyuk felt the same.
“R-really Gobang?”
“Yes. Assassin.”
“Who killed you last time?”
“The Chaos Beast Hydra.”
“What monster did you slay most recently?”
“A Tier 4 Minotaur.”
He answered flawlessly.
Juhyuk cautiously added:
“Hey, Gobang?”
“A warrior always heeds and trusts his summoner.”
“Do you know why you’re named Gobang?”
“I do.”
“Should we change your name? ‘Gobang’ might sound awkward.”
“Gobang is the name my summoner bestowed. I cherish it.”
“I’ll rename you.”
“Unnecessary. I am Gobang. The iron wall shielding Summoner Bong.”
“…”
His expanded vocabulary was undeniable.
Another awkward silence.
This wouldn’t do.
Time to break the tension with tower climbing.
“Let’s climb the tower. It’s been awhile.”
“Y-yes, let’s.”
“…This maiden agrees.”
But Gobang’s current state inspired little confidence.
Would his former power ever return?
Juhyuk had planned to attempt the 35th floor upon Gobang’s revival, but that seemed impossible now. An S++ rank strategy? Better to safely grind the 34th floor.
[Entering Korea’s Black Tower – 34th Floor]
“Shall we proceed?”
Gobang boldly stepped forward.
“I’ll lead. The rest follow Summoner Bong.”
Why such confidence?
He stood a mere 190cm now.
“…Perhaps Kosak should take point while Gobang guards the rear.”
“Summoner, fear not. Trust in Gobang.”
“Hmm.”
Fine. One chance.
He must have a plan.
A Tier 4 Minotaur materialized—nearly thrice Gobang’s size.
‘It could swat him aside like a fly.’
Juhyuk’s anxiety peaked.
He whispered to Kosak:
‘Intervene immediately if things go wrong.’
‘Understood.’
Suddenly—
“ROOOOOAR!”
The shrunken Gobang bellowed.
His voice remained thunderous despite his size.
Then—
Thrum! THRUMTHRUMTHRUM!
Grotesque sounds erupted as muscles bulged across Gobang’s body.
CRUNCH! CRACK!
His frame expanded—
And kept growing.
4 meters. 5 meters.
Nearly matching the Minotaur.
Each step shook the ground as he towered upward and outward.
A splash of green paint would’ve made him a living fortress.
At last:
“It’s Gobang.”
“’Tis him.”
“Gobang has arrived.”
